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Which of these is best for a first accordion?

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Jess

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I have done a bit of research, and know hohner is generally the best, but just to make sure, which of these accordions would be best for a complete beginner, but would also last me a while, because I will not be able to afford to just buy a new one when I grow out of it.

This is a hohner 48 bass:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/German-AC...292?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ad6a6df64

This is weltmeister stella 48 bass:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Weltmeist..._MusicalInstr_Keyboard_RL&hash=item20e7557fba
 
None of them look like a bargain to be honest.
May I be nosey and ask what your budget is?
For instance, I sold my Hohner student model for €300 four years ago and it was far newer and in better condition than these two.
 
Well its a close call - many would say don't buy off ebay... and:
a) 48 bass is too small 'for ever'...
b) 12x4 is better will give more flexibility than 8x6..
c) Hohner is better than Welty .. usually but for a beginner model that isn't likely to be an issue.

Those are for discussion, these are facts:
d) This Hohner is a really quite old model, precedes mid 50s, maybe pre war.
e) The Hohner seller is abroad & if there's something wrong you'll struggle with communication & the return shipping costs, potential in transit damage etc.
f)The Welty seller is UK, been around for a while, credible feedback and must be working to keep it.

If you're dead set on an ebay purchase & it has to be one of these 2, and I'd go for the UK seller... but I dont know them.

There may be other recommendations we could make, I assume you're UK? Where?
 
Im the Sargent Shultz of the accordion world so pay no attention to me whatsoever. I know NOTHING! NOTHING! I agree though with Soulsaver however. Theres no point in a 48 bass machine. Youll want more very quickly.

Buy this one with spare change and then take it someplace for £200 worth of work. It needs some reeds re-waxed and some fidley bits fiddled. There may be some severe reed rusting though that makes it a potted plant stand. Or maybe somebody here hasnt noticed it and wants to play with repair. Check local classified adverts too.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Paolo-Sop..._MusicalInstr_Keyboard_RL&hash=item259094423f
 
I would simply reiterate what others have said. The 48 is not a long-lasting option. Even in the Palmer-Hughes Accordion Course, the beginning of the second book (of ten) says the student should have the 120 bass.
 
In the Palmer-Hughes course 3-10 a bass machine of 96 to 120 is needed.
 
Hohners used to be better than the Weltmeisters when they were in Germany but Hohners are now made in China and the Modern Weltmeisters employ some of the ex employees that used to work for Hohnor before they moved to China. The modern Weltmeisters now are just as good as many Italian accordions with very little difference in sound quality. The Weltmeisters you suggest are the older Weltmeisters which may or may not be in good tune. Even so, if they are in reasonably good outer apearance and tuning is needed it would cost about £80 to £100 for re tuning. Which would be much cheaper than buying a new one. Although a new one would be better. Some time ago I bought an older German 32 bass Royal Standard for £100 which had been looked after in outwardly good condition and had it re-tuned for £80 . It is now as good as a new one. I bought a good quality gig bag for it and now keep it for its lightness and as a spare.
 
Hi thanks for the replies I'm in cornwall it's for my thirteen year old daughter though so don't want anything too big. Does anyone know of anything in Cornwall? She did try a 120 bass once and it was too big, but maybe bigger than 48 then if that's what's needed. I know it's a bit cheap but I really can't go over £200. What would last her at least a few years then, for that price, instead of forever?
 
Oh and she would eventually want it for busking, and maybe a little band with friends, so another reason to keep it smallish.
 
Hi Jess! 48-bass accordions are great for folk music, Morris bands, sessions, travelling and busking. Yes, they're limited, but it'll be sufficient for her to find out if she wants to play the accordion, and there'll be no need to discard the little box when upgrading, as it has its own specific uses. Definitely don't get her a 120 bass - way too heavy, and at the lower price range they can be offputtingly hard to play. However, I'd go for the kind of 48 bass that has 8x6 rows rather than the Hohner in your link which is 12x4.

Do not buy an accordion that needs lots of work done - it's very difficult to find anyone to do that kind of work, and it's very expensive!

I don't know about dealers in Cornwall, but would recommend that you get someone who can play an accordion to come with you and try out boxes, ideally with your daughter present so that she can decide if she likes the sound. I started with a 48-bass Stella, but had to upgrade almost immediately because it sounded so awful....
 
My customary mini-rant here: "120 bass", as used in this discussion, is a sort of ass-backwards way of referring to a full size right hand keyboard, which is apparently can't be said directly as the exact number of keys therein may vary, but that's where the extra reeds are, the size, and weight. 48 bass is indeed smaller, but once you're up to 72 you have all the reeds that you'd expect in any bass side, and most of the weight, and the best way to gauge how heavy it's going to be, is to find out what it weighs.
 
A 60 bass 2 voice might be the answer. Its just a fractionally more weight than a 48 bass and it has everything thats on a 72 bass, but without the diminished row of chord that you can do without.
 
The guy in totness is a very nice helpfull chap, usually has a good range of new and second hand, and seems very fair on prices might be worth a try {}
 
Is the Galotta a good make then? It says it's German made, so is that a sign of quality?
 
Galotta is OK.
A good Galotta is better than a bad anything else, beginner. Galotta is Hohner made, east German factory I think..
AcSW is well respected dealer and a talented player & a teacher... no reason to believe he's not good at that, too; I wouldn't think you'll go far wrong with an accordion from him, should come with warranty too.

He's a very recent member on here, no other connection.
 
Galottas were never made by Hohner - they are related to the old East German Weltmeister and Harmona brands, all of which were manufactured in the VEB Klingenthal. They are alright but not as good as Hohners from the same period. £200 is a nice price for a 48-bass Galotta in good condition though; those little old boxes are very popular for folk music and Morris.
 
No argument - that's why I said 'think' 'cos I had doubts.
Of course now many of the Hohner employees displace by China manufacturing have been recruited at Welty
 
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